For passenger convenience and for environment friendly transactions, Indian Railways will now accept virtual e-tickets. The printed e-ticket is also acceptable. This virtual e-ticket is called VRM (Virtual Reservation Message) and can be shown to ticket examiner through any withscreen electronic gadget such as ipad, laptop, palmtop, Mobile phone etc.

According to a commercial circular (36/2011) by Ministry of Railways, "A Screen-shot of the e-ticket displayed through laptops/palmtops referred to as Virtual Reservation Message-VRM will also be construed to be as an instrument on par with ERS(Electronic Reservation Slip)/MRM. Such passengers need not take a printout of the e-ticket and instead display the ERS-Electronic Reservation Slip details on their laptops/palmtops."

VRM will also authorize the passenger to enter the platform on the day of journey and he/she will not be required to purchase platform ticket.

However a passenger travelling with VRM must also keep any one of the eight approved ID proofs in original. If a group shares same VRM then at least one person booked on the e-ticket/m-ticket from the group should carry an original ID proof.

Accepted identity proofs (in original) are:

Voter Photo identity card issued by Election Commission of India.

Passport.

PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.

Driving Licence issued by RTO.

Photo identity card issued by Central/State Government.

Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/ College for their students.